Flow indicating apparatus



April 20, 1937. c. A. TURNER FLOW INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1951 4 SheetsSheet 1 April 20, 1937. Q TURNER 2,078,043

FLOW INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. .15, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 2 jZZ/67M0l, Mime. Char 426% 2 00/7201,"-

April 20, 1937. c TURNER 2,078,043

FLOW INDI CATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ril 20, 1937. c. A. TURNER 2,078,043

FLOW INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 4 Sheets$heet 4 Hill/67mg" w o 1 6%? anus/7 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FLOW INDICATING APPARATUS Charles A. Turner, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments,

to Howe Manufacturing Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application January 15, 1931, Serial No. 508,839

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in flow indicatingapparatus or apparatus for indicating a flow of water or other liquid in a sys tem of piping for the storage and conduction of the liquid. Liquids, and especially water, are peculiarly mobile and subject to surgings and vibrations which are quite as likely to actuate apparatus designed for indicating the movement of liquid as a flow created by discharge from some portion of the system, and the practical problem is to provide instrumentalities which will react to .a flow and will not react to the surges and vibrations to which the liquid in a particular system is subject. Surges and vibrations are oscillatoryof reverberatory in character and develop impulsive force in a particular direction for relatively brief periods of time, whereas a flow which is not stopped immediately and ceases to be a iiow has a continuous impulsive force in the direction of flow while the flow lasts or for a considerable longer period of time than'the surges and vibrations.

I have utilized this difference in duration between surges and vibrations upon the one hand and flow upon the other in the construction of a flow indicating device for which I filed application for Letters Patent on the 23rd day of July, 1928, which said application has been assigned Serial No. 294,653.

In the aforementioned application, now abandoned, I so mounted a blade in the liquid, together with instrumentalities for transmitting the movement of the blade to the signalling apparatus whereby the blade was required to be deflected for a certain interval of time before the signal apparatus would be actuated.

In my present application I have provided instrumentallties in the electrical apparatus whereby it is necessary that it shall be actuated continuously for a predetermined length of time before a signal will be transmitted.

, Flow indicating apparatus are associated with fire extinguishing sprinkler systems which, in

. turn, involve both municipal and insurance regu- 45 lation and supervisiomwhereby a condition has been created in which a flow indicator to be of anyspractical value must be constructed so that it cannot be rendered inoperative or tampered with without giving an alarm as positively as when it functions to indicate a flow.

I have therefore provided in connection with instrumentalities for. indicating a flow means organized therewith for indicating any tampering with the apparatus and other means also organized with the flow indicating mechanism for signalling in the event that complete assembly is not restored after inspection.

I have attained the foregoing objects and results by means of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention, the cover thereof being in central section.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation without the cover of the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the actuating member for and linkage between the opposed switch blades.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the series switch blade in open position in the absence of the linkage between the blades.

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the spring for opening the series switch blade when the linkage between the switch blades is removed.

Fig. 9 is a view on section line 9-! of Fig. 5 comprising an elevation of the series switch blade, and

Figs. 10, i1, and .12 are diagrams of the different and progressive electrical phases which the apparatus takes in transmitting a signal.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views.

The pipe, i3, either riser or lateral, is perforated, at II, and opposite the perforation is mounted, in any desired manner, the saddle l5, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5. The saddle i5 is provided with a central embossment It, which, as shown in Fig. 5. is provided with a flattened top I! with an annular peripheral channel to receive a sealing gasket It. The embossment II and saddle I! are centrally bored and tapped, as at l9, preferably on a taper to receive the oppositively threaded cylindrical casing 20 which contains the mounting for the blade Ila, which is extended into the liquid contained in the pipe to which the apparatus is amxed. The upper end of the casing 20 is covered by a cap 2| centrally perforated to permit of the passage therethrough of a stem or rod 22 moved by the blade when the liquid in the pipe moves.

So far as the present invention is concerned the mounting of the blade and its association with the stem 2! is not important, such mounting may be as shown in my heretofore referred branchilows through the thermo-sensitive element lil, contact points ll and l2, and conductor h to conductord which renders the thermosensitive element l parallel electrically with switch blade 52. This arrangement secures the energizing'ol the solenoid in the relay X until contact is destroyed and the circuit opened between the thermo-sensitive element l0 and contact point l2, after the circuit has been it) opened at either of contact points ll by the movement of the switch blade 52. From point a another branch conductor 1 winds about the theme-sensitive element lll and connects with one end or the coil II. The other end of the coil ll is connected by conductor in with the switch blade "a, and when switch blade Ha contacts with either or both of the contact points Ila the circuit is closed through conductor 1 leading from contact points ila to supply conductor 12.

The reasons for employing the opposing linked switch blades l! and "a instead or a single switch blade are two: First, such an arrangement permits oi use in closed circuit work without any draw or current through the elements II and ll until the apparatus is required to iunction, and second, the switch blade 52 secures the restoration oi the system immediately upon the removalof the actuating influence so and without the cooling of the element ll.

This immediate reenergization of relay x and restoration of the system upon closure of the circuit throughcontact ll and switch blade '2 immediately upon cessation of flow and without waiting for cooling of the element la is highly desirable. Systems 'such as described are periodically tested by an inspector allowing a certain flow through the line, checking the time delay setting of the switch and ascertaining whether the alarm circuit is in proper working order. It the system is installed in a large manuiacturing or mercantile establishment, or inpublic buildings having numerous occupants. the alarm circuit will usually include a number of alarm devices. The ringing of these alarm devices for any considerable period of time will not only serve as a distraction to the occupants, but will result in their ceasing their work and leaving the building under the apprehension that an actual are has occurred. Employees of such establishments, school children and the like. have usually been instructed to leave the building upon hearing such alarm. Also, it the slam were allowed to continue, in many cases ,0! actual fire the occupants or the building would not leave their work, thinking it was merely a test'ot the system. For these reasons it is essential that immediate opening of the alarm circuit during tests of the system be pro* vided.

It will be observed from the diagrams and the ioregoing'explanation that i! contact between switch blade I! and either contact point ll is interrupted, the circuit including switch blade I! will be opened. It will also be observed that 05 it will be necessary to separate switch blade Ila from both 0! the contact points Ila in order to open the circuit including switch blade Ila. This is desirable. in my presentapparatus as 'I desire to secure an arrangement which will be positive and sensitive to secure the opening of the circuit by means of the movement of switch blade I! and will be equally positive in closing the circuit through the movement oi switch blade Ila.

circuit including switch blade 52a immediately before the opening of the circuit including switch blade 52, the link BI is so proportioned that a slight play is permitted between the end of the link engaging switch blade 52 and switch blade 52a so that switch blade 52a is released and permitted to close before switch blade 52 is actuated to open the circuit in which it is included.

Upon the movement 0! the blade Ila and rod 22 the link a between switch blades 52 and "a shifts to open the circuit including the switch blade 52 at either or both of contact points ll and to close the circuit including switch blade Ila at either or both of the contact points Ila. This condition is shown in Fig. 11. 'Upon the closing of the circuit including switch blade "a current proceeds through conductor 1! and heats the thermo-sensitive element l0, thereby causing it to flex and break contact at contact point ll. The amount of time required in heating the thermosensitive element l0 so that it will break contact at contact point ll may be predetermined and controlled in several ways: one, by the amount of winding of conductor 4 around'the thermosensitive element ll; another, the size of the resistance ll; another, the size of the lamlnations oi the thermo-sensitive element ll; and still another, means for controlling the time of functioning of the thermo-sensitive element ll is through the adjustment of the contact points ll and l2.

It has been my experience that surges and vibrations in a system of piping tor the storage and conduction of liquids do not produce unidirectional movement in the liquid for a period as great as thirty seconds so that ii the thermosensitive element is conditioned to operate within thirty seconds after the closing of the circuit including conductor a, the apparatus will be free from indicating mere surges or vibrations of the liquid in the system.

We will assume that a flow has been started in the system which has persisted longer than thirty seconds. The circuit including switch blade I! is opened, the circuit including thermo-sensitive element ll is also opened and current ceases through conductor d, The relay x is-de-energized, the blade 15 of the relay falls into engagement with contact III. This short circuits relay '2 through conductor 83 and at the same time energizes suitable devices ll connected across to conductor 17. The deenergization of relay .2 causes armature It to engage contact ll, thereby energizing the signal 11. This condition is shown in Fig. 12.

It will further appear that the entire system being energized through contact point ll and blade I! relay X will likewise be de-energized by removal of the cover casing 33.

It also appears that it link BI and stud II are removed during inspection, bow II will be released and spring ll operating through pins .8

will break circuit between switch blade I! and responsive device, a control circuit connected to asoureeoicurrentandincludingapairolline conductors. a relay having one terminal connected directly to one line conductor, a pair 0! coniointly operable switches actuated by said new responsive device (or the duration otiiow, one of said switches being normally closed and hav-' ing one contact connected to the other o! sald line conductors and the other contact connected to the other terminal ot said relay for normally maintaining said relay energised, the other of said switches being normally open and having one contact connected to said one line conductor, a shunt for said normally closed switch, heat remeansioropsningsaidshimtmheating coileonnectedbetween saidotheroisaidline conductors and the other contact oi said normally open switch, and a signal circuit operable up n de-energisation of said relay whereby actuation o! said how responsive devicesimultaneously opens said normally closed switch and closes said normally open switch to energise said heating coiiioractuating saidheat responsive means to open said shunt and thereby said relay, and whereby said relayisimmediately reenergised upon cessation 0! flow by closure of said normally closed switch independent y of said shunt. Y

,2. In a ilow indicating circuit, a pair oi, line conductors connected to a sources! current, a relay having one terminal connected to one of said conductors, a normally closed switch Q00? necting the other terminal oi said rolay'io the other of said conductors to maintain said energised, a signal circuit operable upon deenergisation of said relay, a normally closed shunt switch connected between said othorzotsald conductors and-said other terminal 0! said relay. thermallyresponsive mans tor-opening add shunt switch, electrical heating means therefor, ailowresponsiyedevicaandmaansactuatedhy said device during iiow ior simultaneously opsnin! solid normally closed switch and said'heatingmeans whereby said heatingmeans aiterapredeterminedintervaiactuatessafl closed shunt for said switch, thermally responsiye-msans controlling opening and closing 0! saidshunt,aheatingeoilconnectedatcnsend to'saidotherotsaideonduetoraanormallyopn switehconnectedbetweensaidoneoi'saideondoctors and the opposite endoi'saidheating edl.-

anowresponsiyedemmeans actuamdhysaid device for nl intlyopsning said normally olold switch andclosingsaldnormallyopen switohior theduration oi ilow whereby closure oi said last namedswitchenergisessaidheatingcoiltoacto ate said thermally responsive means for opening said shunt, and a signal circuit actuated by deenergisation ct said relay upon opening of said shunt.

CHARIBL I'URNIR. 

